Pump or motor



Jam, 1925.

H. B. HIGGINS, JR

\ `PUMP oR MOTOR Filed Feb. 14,. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet l 5] une; 1 tot.

' Jan. 6. 1925. 1,521,884

l H. B. HIGGINS, JR

PUMP OR MOTOR Filed Feb. 14. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet '5 2345 gg 5l Jan. 6. 1925. 1,521,884

H. B. HIGGINS, JR

PUMP 0R MOTOR Filed Feb. 14, 1925 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 6, 1925. 1,521,884

H. B. HIGGINS, JR

PUMP on MToR 5 Sheets-511%?. 5

i 'vwaufozl I engl? y/17,5%

- adapted to be contacted bythe plun ers,'

Pau-Silea Jan. 6,1925.

UNIT-ED STATES Y B. Hieeius, Ja,

TENT- ;HCE?

0F DENVER, COLORADO.

PUMP 0R M0103.

Application led February 14, 1923. Serial No. 618,892.

To all whom ltmayconcer/n: A

Be it known that I, HENRY B. HIGGINS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residin at Denver, in the county of Denver an State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pumps or Motors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyin drawing.

My inventlon relates to that class of pumps or motors embodyin a rotor or drum fixed to an operating sha t, said rotor or drum being rovided with a plurality of cylinders, an plungersoperating in said cylinders, and means, such as a face cam,

ltilting box or tiltable swash late, which latter term l shall hereina er employ,

whereby, in a'pump, rotation of said aft will cause a pumping action on fluid led to the cylinders, and whereby, when the apparatus is used as a motor, rotation Aof'said rotor or drum by compressed Huid will result in a rotation of said shaft.

There are several variations of -this eneraltype adapted for the application o ,the principle herein disclosed; for example, a pump or motor wherein the swash plate rotates and the cylinders remainstationary. ln hitherto known devices, as above referred to, it has been customary to regulate the stroke of the pump or motor, by tilting the swash plate with respect to the shaft, or, in other words, by varying the angle of inclination of said swash plate with respect to the axis of rotation of said shaft,

obviously increasing or decreasing the stroke of the plungers. Means have heretofore been provided for manually adjusting` said swash plate to such positions.

ln all such devices heretofore referred to, a certain static pressure has always been built up on the discharge side of the pump,

and on the intake side of the motor, and. such pressure remains until the adjusting device is manually operated to vary the stroke of the pump or motor, until the static pressure is relieved to the desired degree.

One of the objects of my invention therel fore is the provision of means for automatically varying the angle of inclination of the swash plate, with respectl to the axis of jects an operating rotation of the operatin shaft, in roportion to the degree of, lan by the stat-1c pressure attained on the discharge end of a. pump, ori the intake end of a motor. means of such constructionfl am enabled to automatically shorten the operative stroke of a pump or lengthenthe stroke of a motor as the static `pressure rises,.and the converse of each as the pressure drops.

. Another object is the provision of a pump or motor so constructed as to permit 'oi the effective operation of the'aforesaid automatlc regulation.

Other objects of my invention will become esV apparent from the disclosure in the followis a .section taken on line 3-3 of Fig.`6 is an end elevation of t e pump; l

Fig. 7 is-a'detail of the pivotal mounting of the swash plate.

`Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5, show-l ing a vsomewhat"dierent automatic regulator; Y

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 6; 'l1`ig.- 10 is a detail section showing the attachment pf the automatic regulator to the swash. plate; ,y

Fig. l1 is a view of amotor equipped with my invention;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 12--12 of Fig. 11.

Now referring specifically to Fig. 1 of' the drawing, A is a casing, into which proshat B, upon which is mounted a rotor so connected to the shaft as to rotate therewith. Pivotally mounted within the casing A is a swash plate D, the

articular method of mounting said plate to bemore specifically hereinafter ex-` plained.

drical shell, havin The rotor C is provided with a plurality of cylinders 1, open at each end, and extendln in a plane parallel to that of the shaft Each cylinder is provided with a plunger 2, .controlled by a coiled spring 3, held in position by aspring washer 4. The' plungers 2 are here shown as a hollow cylinan open rear end, and provided with a c osed outer end having a rounded outer face for contact with the swash plate D.

rIhe intake end of the rotor C, is covered by a plate 6, carr ing two segmentally configured ports 7, I lines, Fig. 6; Communicating with said ports are inlet and outlet pipes 8, 8' respectively, as clearly shown.

From the foregoing it will be sufliciently understood byvthose skilled in the art that, in operating such apump as described, the swash plate D is normally tilted to such angle as desired, to govern the stroke of .the

plungers in the cylinders.

'llhe springs 3 always press each plunger outwardly so that its curved face 5 is in sliding engagement with vthe face of the swash late. Rotation of the shaft B will cause the rotor C to turn,` and of coursey cause the projecting ends 5 of each plun er to -ride around the face of the contactlng swash plate. n

In the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the swash plate D is inclined inwardly at the top. The cylinders which are aligned with part 7 are taking in, from the pipe 8, the fluid being pumped, the pres-` sure, if any, ofthe incoming liquid, and the pressure of the springs 3, always forcing the `plungers outwardly so that the face 5 contacts the swash plate. As the plungers rise they are push inwardly to the position shown above the shaft 1n Fi 1, and the fluid in the cylinders is ejecte through the port 7 to the outlet. pipe 8', for delivery to the desired point.

In all devices hitherto known to me, the pivoted swash plate is manually adjusted and rigidly fixed at such inclination as to properly determine the desired stroke of the pump. But it is obvious that, in case where work is being performed by the fluid being ejected throughthe pipe 8', a static pressure i) proportlon to the work performed, is

eloped in said pipe, between the pump and the work. In the hitherto known devices, it has been necessary to relieve such pressure, when excessive, by some sort of relief valve, which is wasteful, or by manually moving said swash plate to a position more nearl perpendicular to the operating shaft, there y shortening` the stroke of the pump until the static pressure has been sufficiently relieved, and to thereafter restore the swash i plate to its original position, when conditiOIlS afle OIICe IIIOI'B 110111121.

, best shown in dotted.

wensen v As herein before stated, my invention comprehends the automatic movement of the swash plate, by means of the static pressure, to automatically regulate the stroke` of the Puma The instrumentalities for effecting the automatic regulation may be'described as follows:

The swash plate D comprises a cylindrical cup containing two bearing rings 9 and 10, separated Iby anti-friction balls 11. The outer surface of the ring 10 is adapted 'for lcontact by the ends 5 of the pistons 2, and,

under the friction developed by the thrust of said ends 5, is caused to run on the balls 11.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the swash plate D is provided on opposite sides with projecting trunnions 12, 12, and 12', l2', mounted inblocks 13, 13, 13', 13', containing suitable curved sockets adapted for the reception of said trunnions. It will be noted that this construction permits the swash plate to be pivoted either on the trunnions 12, 12, or 12', 12', also that the trunnions 12, 12 are above the central line of the shaft B, and that the trunnions-12','12' are below said centralv line, such arrangement constitutin a feature of my automatic regulator. he upper portion of the swash plate D is provided with a neck 14 adapted for attachment to the other elements of my autolmatic regulator.

In the upper portion of the casing A is provided acylinder 15, in which is reciprocably mounted a barrel 16, carrying at its end nearest the swash plate, a slipper 17, pivotally secured to the neck 14 of the swash plate bymeans of a pin 18. rIhe other end of the barrel 16 is closed by a perforated cap 19, through which extends a screw-threaded shaft'20, passing through a screw-threaded projection 20' carried by the casing, said shaft'carryin an operating handle 21 on its outer end. nthe inner end the shaft 20 carries a plunger 22, slidable within the barrell. Between the plunger 22 and the closed end of the barrel 16 nearest swash plate 1D, is loosely mounted a coiled spring 23, and another coiled spring 24 is loosely mounted betweenl the plunger 22 and the cap 19.

Y It is clear that rotationof the shaft 20 in one direction will move the plunger 22 to theleft to compress the spring 23, and movement in the opposite direction will compress the spring 24.

In Fig. .1 the spring 24 is greatly compressed, but plunger 22 cannot move except by rotation of the shaft 20, and the The movement o. the I shaft which y pulled swash'plate .D away from. the per- I circulation of the fluid, it will exert no appreciable pressure upon the plungers, nor they in turn upon the face of. swash plate D, and the only power required to rotate the driving shaft B is that necessary to overcome the friction of the device.

However, as soon as resistance is interposed in the path of the iuid,a corespondlng static pressure is built u in the same, which pressure is immediate y transferred back to the plungers and the face of swash plate D, and thence to the trunnions 12', 12. It will be obvious that, since the center of support of swash plate D is below the center of thrust delivered by the plungers againstsaid plate, the plungers above the shaft'present the same. pressure against the plate as do the plungers below, but through a longer lever arm, depending upon how farl the trunnions 12, 12" are located below the axis of the rotor C. Also that there will v be more plungers exerting pressure above than below the trunnions. Thus the total pressure against the face of the swash plate Aabove the trunnions is greater than the presvlieves the static pressure at the outletV end,

or enables the pump to operate at reduced capacity against a higher load. As the static ressure reduces, the spring 24 `automatica ly operates to restore the swash plate to the position shown in Fig. 1, as will be understood.

It will beclear that,'as swash plate D moves nearer to a lplane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor C, the stroke of the plungers is shortened, and that said plungers will displace less fluid per revolution, and, conversely, when the static pressure on the fluid be decreased, spring 24 will operate to tilt the swash plate further away from the'perpendicular, thereby increasing the luiddisplacement per revolution, thereby automatically keeping approximatelyjeven, under all conditions, the load on the prime mover.

Fig. 5 illustrates the reverse positions of the parts wherein the direction of rota-tion of the drive-shaft and of the rotor is the 'same as in Fig. 1, but wherein the swash plate'has been tilted in a .reverse direction, to compress theA spring 23. Such movement of the swash plate has caused the pivotal points to be placed upon the trunnions 12, 12, and has caused the plungers which are aligned. withpart 7 "to become' the intake plungers, and those which are aligned with part 7 to operate as ejection plungers. It will also be clear that, for the same reasons as above set forth, static `pressure now operates to additionally compress the spring 23, tending lto restore the swash plate to the perpendicular as such pressure increases, and the spring 23 immediately tendsto restore the swash plate to the position shown in Fig. 5, when said pressure is reduced.

Fig. 11 shows'a longitudinal section of a fluid operated motor litted with my automatic regulator. i ItA will be observed that, in general, the machine is similar to the construction heretofore described. The swash plate D however, is not provided with the double trunnion arrangement, being pivoted above the line of rotation of the rotor C. The spring 24 has also lbeen elimina-ted. ln this construction fluid under pressure is introduced to the plungers above the line of rotation of the rotor C, pressing the .plungers 2 forcibly against the swash plate D, and causin them to ride downwardly in clockwise dlrection upon the inclined face of the swash plate and thereby turn the rotor, which in turn rotates the shaft B, the latter thereby becoming a ldriven sha-ft which may be operatively connected to any desired work.

Ordinarily, when the mechanical eifort required of the motor is small, thereis no opportunity for any heavy static pressure to build up in the driving fluid, as the motor can rotate rapidly and thus displace enough fluid' to dissipate any great pressure, and hence a slight compression of v the spring 23 will holdthe swash' plate D in a plane nearly perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor C. This results in the pflungers taking a short stroke and hence displacing but a small quantity of fluid per revolution.

If the mechanical resistance to its rotation be increased, the rateof rotation of the motor will decrease, permitting an increase of static pressure in the iuid acting t upon the plungers.

This increase in static pressure behindl the plungers causes them to protrude further, and, since the predommatingy fluid pressure is below the axis of oscillation of iso the swash plate D, the tendency of such pressure is to tilt the latter still further away from the perpendicular, additionally compressing the spring 23. Such movement of the swash plate results in a longer stroke of the plungers 2, and hence in the displacement of more lluid, thereby in'- vcreasing the mechanical power available.

When the loaden the motor, and hence the degree of static ypressure is sufficiently reduced, the spring 23 will automatically return swash plate D toward the perpendicular thereby shortening the stroke of the plungers 2, thus displacing an amount of fluid substantially in.' proportion to the amount of vvorkperformed,- as will be readily understood.- Fig. 8 shows the same mechanism adJusted for use as a pump. This adjustment is made by moving shaft 20 .to the left, causing'the plunger to compress the spring 23 while swash plate D is so inclined that its upper portion is at the left of a plane perpendicu-` lar to the axis of rotation of the rotor C. By this construction the motor acts as a pump, exactly as described in connection with the operation ofthe construction shown in Fig. 5.

From the foregoing it is clear that the above described constructions embody means for automatically causing the static pressure to-change the adjusted stroke of the pump or motor, and to automatically restore said stroke upon sufficient reduction of said pressure. It will be noted that the stroke automatically varies with the rise and fall of the static pressure, which is a function of the load imposed upon the pump or motor.

The principle involved in this disclosure is considered to be adaptable to Wide applications which will be suggested to those skilled in the art, and the principle of operai tion herein described is intended to broadly cover all such modifications, adaptations or embodiments as fall fairly Within the scope of the'appendedI claims.

I claim: i

l.' A pump or motor provided with a rotating member having-adplurality of cylinders carryinfrplungers a apted for reciproc-ation therein, in combination with an element mounted `in position'tobe contacted by said plungers said element being pivoted in a plane ontsi( e ofA the axis of rotation of lsaid member, substantially as described and for the vpurposes set forth. ep

2. A. pump provided with a'rotating member having a plurality of cylinders carrying plungers adapted for reciprocation. therein, in combination with an element mounted in position to be contacted by said plungers, s aid element being so mounted as Vto--b,e.capable of movement to a position where it is pivoted either above or below Marsac the axis of rotation-ot said member, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth. l

3. Avpn'mp or motor provided with a rotating member having a plurality of cylinders carrying plungers,` in combination with an element mounted for contact by said `.plungers and governing the Working stroke thereof said element being so ivoted that the vpredominating force of t e plungers willbe exerted on said element at one side of the axis of rotation of said member, and means resiliently. opposing said predominating force, substantially as described.'

4. A pump or motor provided with a rotating member having a plurality of cylinders carrying plungersadapted for reciprocation therein, in combination with a pivoted element adapted for contact by said plungers and governing the stroke thereof, said element being so mounted that the redominating force of the plungers is app ied onv one side of the yaxis of rotation yont said member, substantially as described.

5. Apnmp or motor provided with a rotating member having a plurality of cylinders carrying plungers adapted for 'reciprocation therein, in combination with a pivoted element adapted for contact by said plungiers and governing the stroke thereof, said element being so mounted that the predominating force of the plungers is applied on .one side 'of the axis of rotation of said member, and resilient means bearing on said element in opposition to said predominating force, substantially as described. y

6. A pump or motor provided'with a ro# .tating member having a lura-lity of cylinders carrying plungers a apted for reciprocation therein, in combination with a pivoted element adapted for contact 'by said plungers and governing the stroke thereof, said element being so mounted that the predominating force'of theplungers is applied on one side of the axis ofrotation of said anember, anda compression spring bearing on said element in opposition to said predominating force, substantially as described.

7. A ump provided with a rotating4 member' aving a pluralit of cylinders carryin plungers adapte for recipro cation t erein, in combination with anelement-adapted for contact with such plungers to overn the. stroke thereof, said element eing mounted for movement to a position whereby its axis of oscillation is on one side of the axis of rotation of said member, and to another position where the axis of oscillation is on the other side of the axis of rotation of said member, substantially as' and for the purposes set forth.

8. A pump `provided with a rotating member-havingla plurality of cylinders carrying plungers adapted for reciprocation therein, in combination with. an element los.

.inders carrying plungers adapte adapted forcontact with said plungers to govern the stroke thereof, said element being mounted for movement to a position Wherevby its axis of oscillation is on one side of the axis of rotation of said member, and to another position Where its axis of oscillation is'on the other side of the axis of rotation of said member and means operating' to resiliently retain said member in' either of its pivoted positions," substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. A pump or motor provided with a rotating member having a pluralit of cylfor reciprocation therein, and with a tiltable element adapted for contact with said plungers to govern the Working stroke thereof, iii combination with means for tilt-ing said element to either side of a plane perpendicular tothe axis of rotation of said member, and means resilient-ly retaining said element in such tilted position.

10. A pump or motor provided with a rotating member having a plurality of cylinders carryingv plungers adaptedfor reciprocation therein, and with a tiltable element adapted for contact with said plungers to govern the Working stroke thereof, in combination with means for. tilting said element to either -side of a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, and means resiliently retaining said element in such tilted position, said means comprising a coiled spring in operative connection with said element.

11. A pump or motor provided with a rotating member `having a plurality of cylinders carrying plungers adapted for reciprocation. therein, and with a tiltable element adapted for contact with said plungers to govern the Working stroke thereof, in comv binatioin with means for tilting said element to either side of a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation vof said member, and means resiliently retaining said element in such tilted position, said'. means comprising a barrel slidably mounted in a cylinder and connected to said element, and means bearing upon said barrel and resiliently retaining said element in such tilted position.

12. A pump or motor comprising a' cas.

ing provided with a rotating member having a plurality of cylinders carrying plungers adapted for reciprocation therein, and with a tiltable velement adapted for contact with said plungers yto govern 'the Working stroke thereof, yin combination with means for tilting said element comprising a barrel pivotally secured to one side of said element, and slidable in bearings in said casing, a piston mounted in said barrel, a coiled spring in'said barrel subject to compression by saidpiston and adapted to resiliently retain said element in its tilted position, and

means for moving said pistonl to increase or decrease the compression of said spring, substantially as described.

13. A pump or motor comprising a casing provided with a rotating member having a plurality of cylinders carrying plungers adapted for reciprocation therein, and with a tiltable element adapted for contact with said plungers to govern the Working stroke thereof, in combination withmeans for tilting said element comprising Aa barrel pivotally'secured to one side of said element, and slidable inbearings in said casing, a piston mounted in saidbarrel, a coiled spring in said barrel subject to'compression bysaid piston and adapted to resiliently retain said element in its tiltedpositon, and means fon' moving said piston to increase or decrease the compression of said spring, said means comprising a shaft projecting through and in screw-threaded engagement with said casing and, connected to said piston, and

means for rotating said shaft.

pivoted element adapted for contact by the plungers to govern the stroke of the latter,

means for adjusting said element to a position at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said member, and

`means adapted to resiliently retain said element in its adjusted position.

16. The combination of an unbalanced element, in a mechanism for the conversion of rotary motion into linear motion, or vice versa, with a resilient force adapted to oppose the predominating force acting upon said unbalanced element, in a manner that will cause the mechanism to produce less linear motion per rotation, in proportion as resistance is imposed upon the output of said lineai."motion, in the first instance, and the production of fewer rotations of the mechanism per unit of linear motion, in proportion to the resistance oiered to said rotation, in the second instance, substantially as described.' l

17. ln a mechanism for v the conversionof rotary motion into' linear motion, the coinbination of an unbalanced element' and a l production of less linear motion per rotation, but with proportionately greater force, asv resistance is` imposed upon the output of said linear motion, substantially as described.

18. In a mechanism for the conversion of rotary motion into linear'motion, the comunbalanced element 1n opposition to the major pressure affecting same,- the cooperation of which Vwill automatically result in the production of fewer rotations per unit of linear motion in proportion to an increase in resistance oered to said r0- tary motion, substantially as described.

y20. In a mechanism for the conversion o linea-r motion into rotary motion, the com` bination of' an unbalanced element and a resilient 'member adapted to act upon said unbalanced element in opposition to the major pressure aecting same,'. the cooperation of which will automatically result in the-production of more rotations;- per unit of linear lmotion in proportion to a decrease in resistance offered to said rotary motion, substantially as described.

21. In a pump, the combination of an unbalanced driving element and a resilient member adapted to act upon` said unbalanced element in opposition to the major .force affecting same, Lthe co-operation of which Will automatically cause said pump to move a lesser quantity of fluid per unit of motion imparted'to it, but with proportionately greater forceas resistance is oered to the passage of said fluid, substantially as described. y, i

22. In a pump, the combination of an unbalanced driving element and a resilient member adapted to act upon said unbalanced element in opposition to the major force 'affecting same, the co-operation of which will automatically cause said pump to move a greater quantity of fluid per. unit of motion imparted to it, but with proportionately less force, as resistance is removed from the passage of said fluid, substantially as describ 23. In a fluid operated motor, the combination of an unbalanced element and a resilient member adapted to act upon said unbalanced element in opposition to the major force affecting same, the co-operation oit which will automatically cause said motor to utilize more luid per unit of motion produced, in .proportion to the resistance offered said motion, substantially as described.

24. In a fluid operated motor, the combination of an unbalanced element and a resilient member adapted to act upon said unbalanced element'in opposition to the major force affecting same, the co-operation of which will automatically cause saidmotor to' utilize less fluid per unit of motion produced, in proportion to the removal of :resistance offered said motion, substantially as de-` scribed.

In testimony whereof Iv hereunto aix my 

